1
as in to fall
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
the bride stumbled on the altar steps and landed smack in the arms of the minister
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to struggle
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
stumbled twice while she was reciting the "Gettysburg Address"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
the tipsy revelers left the path and wearily stumbled through the tangled undergrowth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to fumble
to make a mistake
that network announcer rarely stumbles when he's on the air
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
was his hurtful remark a regrettable stumble, or was it made with artful intention?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stumble
Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
If the student stumbles, the AI agent gives them clues, along with criticism and positive feedback.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
But as Blue Owl’s stumble rattles the industry, its standing in Washington is also getting shakier.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Verb
His partner, suffering from severe head lacerations and five broken ribs and unable to get the two-way radio working, stumbled two miles to the nearest dwelling and was then driven to the nearest phone.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
If the student stumbles, the AI agent gives them clues, along with criticism and positive feedback.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
However, through savvy identification of talent and astute player development, the Orioles soon became legitimate contenders, winning 89 games in 1960 and 95 in 1961, and, after a brief stumble, 86 in 1963, 97 in 1964 and 94 in 1965.
—Raymond Daniel Burke, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026
But as Blue Owl’s stumble rattles the industry, its standing in Washington is also getting shakier.
—Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stumble
Verb
-
Night fell, and Martha came to a small black lake.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Photos shared on social media shows the massive slabs of rock fell just past a blind curve and the SUV sustained major front-end damage.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Perhaps those June friendlies in Florida will give him one more chance to experiment, but the simple reality is that any Kane-less plan will struggle to get off the ground.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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The waiver was established by the TEA to provide additional flexibility to go out of state to find qualified leaders to right the ships of struggling districts.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Royals shuffled their outfield this offseason.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The living room has been moved to the second floor in the plans and other rooms were shuffled around, though the project’s size and general design remain roughly the same.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As the years went by, judges complained that the city’s in-house lawyers had fumbled key casework.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Nothing erodes confidence faster than fumbling for lockboxes, waiting on unresponsive listing agents, or showing a space that clearly doesn’t fit.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, this approach is a mistake.—
Kat Tretina,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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But fans, players and teams have grown less patient with mistakes that technology can easily fix.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Also offering Ninja Warrior Day Camp with obstacle courses, trampoline, tumble track, rock wall and more.—
Jessie Dax-Setkus,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
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The payoff for the rough and tumble pickup games came via D1 offers for both Jeremy and Jeremiah (and a first-round draft pick to the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans for Jeremiah).—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Caroline Holcombe slipped a perfect pass to Audrey Anderson in the box, but her shot attempt bounced off the hands of Sophie Strain, the goalkeeper for Guyer (20-4-1).—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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Draghi, who also served as Italy’s prime minister, states that, without radical reform, the European Union is set to slip into economic and geopolitical decline.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents stomped around here like rabid Goths wearing bearskin vests.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
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At times, their set had the foot-stomping intensity of a tent revival.—
Joey Guerra,
Houston Chronicle,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stumble. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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